The Terracotta Warriors

The Terroccotta Warrior deserve a post all their own. 

Our Japanese friend

I was not disappointed in the slightest.

Massive update, continued

Drum Roll, please

MASSIVE BLOG UPDATE!!!!

It has come to my attention that I have seriously neglected this blog.  Here are my pictures from the last 2 months or so.  Hope you enjoy!

Trying on wigs.  Do I look Chinese now?

Riding the bikes at JoyMart

Going to the Zoo!!!

Grooming Tammi

Thine eyes doest not deceive thee.  I am riding a camel.  So far, much cooler than the Hogle Zoo

Playing with the monkeys a few seconds before the chinese monkey man comes starts yelling at me. 

The only kiss I'm gettin in China

Being cool

If I had just reached through the gate I could've touched a lion!!! 

So, I'm a bit overdue on this blog update thing (sorry Tiffany). Where to start? I recently (a week ago) turned the ripe old age of 21, and I must admit, I don't know if I like it. I mean, isn't 21 the last birthday people actually look forward to? Next time I get excited about a birthday will be whenever I get the senior discount at Sweet Tomatoes.  Alas. And I don't know if it's just because I'm in China, but I haven't heard anyone tell me I look like a 12 year old in a long time.  In fact no one seems a bit surprised when I tell them I'm 21.  Hopefully this is just a China thing, as the women all look really young here, but who knows.  I could be starting to look my age.  

Other than my woes about getting older, my birthday was actually quite enjoyable.  For starters we went to an amazing breakfast buffet at the Holiday Inn here in Hefei where we ate AMERICAN breakfast.  We had french toast, scones, omelets, waffles, the works.  It was an all you can eat and trust me, I ate ALL I could eat.  And even though I had to waddle out of the restaurant, it was totally worth it.  After breakfast I went back to my favorite hair salon in China (I've been to two) where they did my washed and styled my hair for free, since it was after all, my birthday.  After the salon we came back to the school to watch a movie and eat wonderful chinese cake (which actually has way good frosting, that I might prefer to american frosting).  Yay for turning 21! 

And I would write more, and possibly even put up pictures.  But it's time for dinner.  And so, until next time.  Which hopefully won't take another month.  

Shanghai Fun!!!

Shanghai Nights

So after our little adventure at the train station we finally did make it to Shanghai!  As soon as we got off the train it was apparent Shanghai would be a little different from Hefei.  For one thing we weren't the only non-asian people anymore, thus we didn't get as many stares as we did in Hefei (which I kind  of missed actually).  The train station was crazy crowded! People everywhere!!! We were all grabbing onto one another as not to get lost. 

We made it to the hostel miraculously enough, after having to split up into 4 different groups into taxis with taxi drivers who didn't know English.  The hostel we stayed at was actually way nice, with heating that worked and soft beds, which is more than I can say for where I live in Hefei! 

 

Fun at the Bund

Meghan, Tammi and me in front of a cool lookin', mystical somethin'...

Yay for being the creeper in the back!!!

Our first full day in Shanghai we went to this awesome aquarium with the worlds LARGEST underwater tunnel! 

I got to pet a shark!!!

Meditating on the moving walk way

Behold "The Pearl"

...

Now in Lego form!

At People's Park... mmm...

SO... there we are, walking down the streets of Shanghai when we run into Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse! Cool, right? So we decide to get a picture with them and psha, Mickey Mouse starts caressing my face, uh yeah... kinda creepy. Then, to top it off, they ask for five yuan (which is only like... 15 cents) for the picture! Yeah right! We just walked away. 

At the top of the use-to-be tallest (now 2nd tallest building) in Asia, Jin Mao. 88th floor baby!

View from the top

Had to get a cow picture! This one was at the top of the Jin Mao Building, for reasons I do not know.

Chugging water at the acrobat show.  Unfortunately we weren't able to take pictures of the acrobat show, but it was AWESOME!!!! I'm considering becoming a chinese acrobat myself. 

Shanghai was so much fun! But I was excited to get back home to my dear Hefei! Believe it or not, I missed my crazy kids!!! I love LOVE China. I miss you all so much! Thanks for all of your support.